The district attorney’s office claims that 32-year-old Angela Maria Diaz devised a complex plan to frame her husband’s ex-fiancee, including faking cervical cancer and pregnancy by forging doctor’s papers, posing as an attorney, and posting online “rape fantasy” ads.
After getting a five-year prison sentence after pleading guilty to numerous felony and minor offenses, she finally admitted culpability.
Diaz allegedly posted “rape fantasy” advertising online, inviting men to her home to try acting out violent sex acts to make it appear as though Michelle Suzanne Hadley, her husband’s ex-fiancee, was harassing her.
Hadley was allegedly falsely accused of a crime, leading to two separate arrests and over three months in jail before she was cleared by investigators and freed. If found guilty, Hadley could have been sentenced to life in prison.
Diaz tied the knot with her “John Doe” husband in February 2016. Between August 2013 and August 2015, Hadley was romantically involved with the same man.
Prosecutors say that in the summer of 2016, not long after Diaz married, she began fabricating false claims against Hadley.
Prosecutors contend that on June 1 of that year, Diaz falsely reported harassing texts to the Anaheim Police Department, attributing them to Hadley. She lied to the police for over a month and called them repeatedly, saying that Hadley had sent them.
Prosecutors say she lied about being pregnant when she stated Hadley endangered her and her unborn child’s lives. Eventually, Diaz was able to obtain a restraining order against the woman with whom she had made false accusations.
In June of 2016, Diaz allegedly went one step further and put online advertising for “rape fantasies” while using Hadley’s identity.
Prosecutors claim that Diaz made it look like Hadley was posting the advertising about her by redirecting emails to herself and using several servers to hide her actual IP address.
Diaz allegedly provided images of herself and details about her routine in response to men’s online inquiries about the advertising, leading investigators to believe that she was the intended victim.
At least two men who were allegedly planning to take part in her “rape fantasies” were stopped by police enforcement before they could carry them out after she reportedly informed them she wanted them to have forcible sex with her regardless of whether she screamed or fought.
Meanwhile, Diaz allegedly informed police in Anaheim that Hadley was stalking her and denied any knowledge of the online ads.
Prosecutors believe that Hadley was essentially setting Diaz up to be raped by placing the ads and that on June 24, 2016, Diaz called 911 and stated a man had entered her garage and attempted to rape her.
Hadley was picked up by Anaheim police and held until a $100,000 bail was posted.
Prosecutors said that after Hadley’s arrest, Diaz reported that she no longer received any further threatening emails.
However, after Hadley’s release, the DA’s office claimed that Diaz “pretended to be the victim” again by sending herself frightening emails and replying to internet ads soliciting rape.
Prosecutors claim that violent language and images were incorporated into the emails to make them appear as genuine threats. Hadley was arrested again on July 14, 2016; this time, she was put on $1 million bail.
Hadley was detained for almost three months before being released on October 7, 2016, when investigators had acquired enough evidence to drop the case.
The Phoenix Police Department in Arizona made the arrest on January 6 of that year.
Orange County DA Tony Rackauckas stated, “Ms Hadley could have continued to face life in prison if it weren’t for the hard work of law enforcement continuing to investigate and seek the truth in this case.”
Hadley’s attorney said he believes Diaz’s conviction will allow Hadley to “move forward in her life” despite the fact that “even while pleading guilty, Diaz showed no regret, sympathy, or understanding for the victim.”
Hadley’s lawyer submitted a victim impact statement to the court to remind the judge that Diaz’s actions put Hadley in jail for 90 days. According to the DA’s office, her attorney Michael Guisti stated his client’s applications for jobs and apartments “still prompt queries about crimes she did not commit” due to her time in jail.
The District Attorney’s office claims Hadley developed PTSD and nightmares as a result of the incident.
A
ccording to the prosecution,
Diaz allegedly sent emails pretending to be two of her husband’s exes.
Diaz pleaded guilty to forgery and possession of a forged check worth more than $950, as well as two counts of kidnapping and false imprisonment by menace, fraud, or deceit, for falsifying a paycheck from the County of Orange in September 2016 and adding $2,000 to a payment from her employer in April 2016.
Diaz also admitted guilt on one felony count of perjury and grand theft and 21 misdemeanor counts of falsely reporting a crime to police.
